Our VINAYA Lab team of Psychologists, Anthropologists, Neuroscientists and Technologists explorewhat it means to be human in THE digital age.

Last summer, while writing my Master’s dissertation on mindfulness and technology, I took part in VINAYA's three-day digital detox retreat in the Agafay Desert in Morocco. In honour of National Unplug Day, which takes place this weekend from March 4th to 5th, I’ve decided to open up my fieldnotes to share my experience of extreme, temporary disconnection.

As human beings, we have a finite amount of attention. Making time to create balance can be a struggle, especially in our modern hyper-connected reality where time has become our greatest luxury. Still, as we move through each day, we possess the potential to value, prioritise, organise and enjoy moments, people and activities as we choose. When we act mindfully, we make small choices about how this might impact the running themes in our lives.

What is digital anthropology? In a series of blog posts, our in-house digital anthropologist Samantha demonstrates through posing a series of question. Here, she explores the question: where does the self live and what part does technology play in this?

The holidays can often feel like the last sprint of the marathon that is our daily work and life. As the year draws to an end and we gather with our loved ones, there is a common feeling in the air: exhaustion.

What is digital anthropology? In a series of blog posts, our in-house digital anthropologist Samantha demonstrates through posing a series of question. Here, she explores the question: how do we enable opportunities for real human connection in the face of digital mediation?

Have you ever felt that elated feeling after a yoga class? That similar slightly euphoric feeling of a runner’s high as you come out of your final Savasana pose, roll up your mat and continue with your day? It's a more common human experience than you might think, and might actually have a lot to do with neuroscience.

From the discovery of the wheel to exploring outer space, we as humans have progressed in innovativeness, inventiveness and novelty with each generation. The unique brain pattern described as ‘creativity’ is observed when our human needs– such as comfort, accessibility and even curiosity– come into play. And it is because of these diverse human needs that we are able to witness the wonders of what human creativity, and innovation, can accomplish.

We might want to live with less by striving for the perfectly edited closet and curated assortment of travel essentials. But what if we applied minimalism to our mental space? What if we decided to declutter the thoughts that no longer (or never) served us?

As part of our ongoing research into modern human connection, we asked 10 people to gaze into the eyes of a stranger for 5 minutes while being filmed. Strategically placing three cameras, the result is a beautiful depiction of raw human emotion....

The last decade of technological innovation has resulted in a rapidly responsive and dialled-in nation. We’re only ever of couple of taps away from our thousands of ‘friends’, and an infinite web of free, digestible information. We're more digitally connected than ever before, it's all so seamless and accessible. Too accessible, for some; sixty percent of people say they suffer from notification fatigue and are looking for ways to disconnect from their smartphone so that they can reconnect with real life.

Let’s face it: even a best friend can be an annoying third wheel, particularly when they are an omnipresent source of neediness. Interested to better understand the effect that smartphones have on modern relationships, we asked 79 non-singles to tell us what role their digital devices play in their romantic relationships. Digging beyond the stats, we wanted to understand how they as a couple deal with digital disruption. The verdict? A bunch of mixed feelings.

Self-improvement forms the basis of so many of our behaviours and decisions. As 2016 commences, it’s a common time to reflect on the the year past and decide where we want to make changes in the next 365 days. Here are three things to keep in mind to make meaningful and lasting change for a more balanced year.

How many times did you check your smartphone the last time you were on a captivating, romantic date? How about when you were last catching up with friend that you’d missed? Or last creating something you were passionate about?

As Christmas approaches, and we’re bombarded with online and offline content about buying gifts for one another, it’s easy to become cynical about the consumerist nature of the holiday season. Gift-giving can quickly feel like a stressful, expensive obligation rather than a generous action. So why do we do it?